News – Dunaber Musichttp://www.dunaber.com
by Michael Grey ...Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:17:11 +0000en-CAhourly1http://www.dunaber.com/wp-content/files/2016/12/cropped-dunaber-piper-32x32.jpgNews – Dunaber Musichttp://www.dunaber.com
3232Canada @150: A baker’s dozen of tuneshttp://www.dunaber.com/2017/06/28/canada-150-bakers-dozen-tunes/
http://www.dunaber.com/2017/06/28/canada-150-bakers-dozen-tunes/#respondWed, 28 Jun 2017 23:09:56 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=3745This year, as some might know, is Canada’s 150th anniversary of “confederation”, as we Canadian-types say. It was in 1864 that politicians of the day met in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and started to agree to something called Canada. By July 1, 1867, we had Canada – and – our first Prime Minister, John A […]

]]>This year, as some might know, is Canada’s 150th anniversary of “confederation”, as we Canadian-types say. It was in 1864 that politicians of the day met in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and started to agree to something called Canada. By July 1, 1867, we had Canada – and – our first Prime Minister, John A MacDonald, Glasgow born – in the Merchant City area, quite possibly – set the stage for a Canada where the pipes are never too far away from earshot. In fact, one Colin Roy MacLellan made a prize-winning pibroch in honour of the great man, “Salute to Sir John A MacDonald”, published (2016) in his father’s, Captain John A’s, “Complete Compositions of Ceol Mor”. An excellent tune.

And so a compositional seque to now: in honour of Canada’s 150 (and seizing an excuse as good as any), a “top” 13 tunes list made up of Canadians. I list them here, with the composer’s surname in alphabetical order.

Nothing too serious here, all in the name of Canada’s anniversary now – I reflected on tunes that were (a) composed by Canadians, or (suspected) naturalized Canucks and (b) tunes that I had a sense are – or at one time were – quite popular. I know there’re loads of good and great tunes of real merit around. This is just a list. One list in a moment in time. And yes, most of these people built many more than one excellent tune.

I didn’t include John Wilson. I don’t know if he ever officially became a Canadian but believe his best tunes were not made in the Land of the Trees.

Barrie, James A – “John MacKenzie’s Fancy” (Hornpipe). Such a seriously original and evergreen tune. One of the first to successful roll in pibroch technique to a light music tune. This tune is a technical monster if you choose to take up the challenge of the composer’s original score.

Cairns, Archie – “Pipe Major J K Cairns” (3/4 March). A tune written for his father, I believe, and also the name of his double gold medal-winning son, Pipe Major of Peel Regional Police Pipe Band, of course. Not strictly my cup of tea, but most pipers surely love – or have loved – this tune.

Dickie, Neil – “The Clumsy Lover” (Hornpipe). I hope Neil managed to become a Canuck – he’s been here long enough. This tune surely one of the most-played of all “fast tunes” in the idiom bar, possibly, the 300 year old tunes, “Sleepy Maggie” and “Mrs MacLeod of Raasay”. I remember as a kid – yes a kid – siting at a Toronto airport bar seeing Neil off to Alberta and he singing this then unpublished tune to me. He wrote the tune out on a bar napkin and I took it to the band – the 78th Fraser Highlander pipe band. I’ll auction the napkin off on eBay one day.

Gandy, Bruce – “Mrs Sharon Duthart” (9/8 Jig). We all know Bruce has made a boatload (I can hear him using that word now!) of fine tunes. This is just one of many that I have always liked. Very melodic and not too technically tricky – but tricky enough. For my money, a good solo competition tune for those with experience – and good taste.

Livingstone, William – “Lillian Livingstone” (Hornpipe). I remember as a young amateur piper sidling up to the rare professional hornpipe/jig competitions [most, as now, were jig-only events], in part with the hope Bill would get this gem picked. I just loved it. – and love it. I remember he played this tune in the basement of Moss Park Armouries in the 48th band room as part of the Toronto Indoor Games. Just great. For the time – and even now – part four resides in Flashytown.

MacCrimmon, Iain – “Morrison Avenue” (4/4 March). For a time this tune was on the tune-up or performing playlist of an awful lot of bands and pipers around the world. A lovely tuneful and original piece. And should we expect anything less from the 10th hereditary piper to the clan MacLeod? Iain has made and published many excellent tunes. This is just one.

MacHattie, James – “At Long Last” (4/4 March). James is a Saskatchewan (say that without starting to stutter) man but now principal of the College of Piping on Prince Edward Island, a mere 4100 kilometre jaunt east of Saskatoon. I believe this tune was made to commemorate a long sought-after victory. I have a sense that this tune is imbued with – among other things – James’ many visits to Brittany. It has a fine Breton flavour, to my mind.

MacNeil, Robert – “Jack’s Welcome Home” (4/4 March). Vancouver’s Robert M has a real knack for making excellent tunes. Of that there is zero doubt. Born in Toronto (the Ontario in me has to say that) he has become a seriously important backbone of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band organization. This tune was made to commemorate champion piper, Jack Lee’s homecoming after having won one of his gold medals in Scotland.

Mackay, Reay – “Colin Mackay” (Hornpipe). This tune still stands today as one of my favourites, if not my favourite, hornpipe. Reay composed this tune when he was 13 years old and named it for his father, also a piper, the Orkney-born, Colin. An original piece it has melody, rhythm and fun all rolled together. It’s also an example of a hornpipe played by Highland pipers where there is a natural pointing in the phrasing – and rhythm – reminiscent of the hornpipe dance.

Magee, Colin – “Jamie Troy’s Wedding” (6/8 Jig). I love that this tune follows the piper’s primer for naming tunes (weddings, farewells, welcomes, favourites and fancies) but is absolutely the bomb when it comes to originality. This tune, by Victoria, BC-based Colin, is full of melody but layered on a grid of fierce syncopation. So good. So fresh – to this day. A random comment: judging an amateur jig contest in Vancouver last weekend; someone submitted this tune, I picked it, he played it. As he fired off his off-beat high A’s I glanced over my shoulder and there was Jamie Troy, Junior – an offshoot, I’d say, of the grand occasion commemorated. Slightly spooky.

McGillivray, Jim – “Michael MacDonald’s Jig” (6/8 Jig). Jim named this tune for Toronto-based, Montreal-born piper, Michael MacDonald. The tune is full of seriously original twists and turns and – best of all – an inherent energy that keeps interest. Another tune made for a competing solo piper – or anyone looking to play a tune that makes people smile and tap their feets.

Worrall, Bob – “Drew James MacIntosh” (6/8 Jig). Named for one of Bob’s pupils. Drew, among many other things, a piper in the Peel Regional Police Pipe Band, at my time in the band. This is a great tune for band or solo – just challenging enough and full of melody and interest. I think I can pass along a silly (true) Drew story now: picture Barrie, Ontario games, about 1996. Drew is playing “Lament for the Viscount of Dundee” in the senior amateur pibroch event. Colin MacLellan judging. I’m there listening. So is fellow band piper (and former highland dancer), Derek Roberts. I dare Derek to dance a fling behind Colin Roy (and me P/M of the band!) as Drew hits the crunluath doubling. Derek’s game and does just that … Drew never flinched (we in the gallery were fairly gleeful). And, Drew won the contest.

]]>http://www.dunaber.com/2017/06/28/canada-150-bakers-dozen-tunes/feed/0Backstory and Reflections: Live in Ireland 87 Projecthttp://www.dunaber.com/2017/03/03/backstory-and-reflections-live-in-ireland-87-project/
Fri, 03 Mar 2017 22:14:47 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=3628Writing a blog has to be the ultimate in vanity exercises, or “vanity projects”, as is usually said when referring to almost anything a person undertakes that requires a healthy ego. We flatter ourselves imagining – or blindly assuming – that people are gagging to get a dose of our words and unsolicited opinion. I […]

]]>Writing a blog has to be the ultimate in vanity exercises, or “vanity projects”, as is usually said when referring to almost anything a person undertakes that requires a healthy ego. We flatter ourselves imagining – or blindly assuming – that people are gagging to get a dose of our words and unsolicited opinion. I invite you (surely countless readers) to consider otherwise. But I do believe this to be true. A blogger rides the pud-puller that is the web log – the blog (come to think of it, Facebook musings are much the same).

It seems to me, too, that the blog can be that and something more. It can be this and that: in my words here, I try to also use this self-made forum as a record of stuff that happens to and around me. I guess you’d call that a diary. Yeah, that’s it; a diary. I’m not as a faithful a diarist as I’d like but when I look back on the last ten years of my dunaber blog I’m reminded of people, events and opinions changed and retained. So, in looking back, I’m happy I kept a little record of one part of my life.

With this in mind I want to provide a little context and reflect briefly on the “Live in Ireland 87” project, so in future years I’ll recollect and today you’ll know a little of the background of the thing.
My old friend J Reid Maxwell and I we’re judging, September 2013, at Canmore Games in Alberta, Canada. In between bands – or maybe after, can’t recall – Reid spoke of an Eagles concert he’d recently seen on Netflix and in that, the thought was triggered: wouldn’t it be great to play that 1987 “Live in Ireland” recording again: reprised and live – a sort of tribute band thing, a celebration of the music. I thought it a great idea and started reflecting on how it might happen.

The 1987 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band was not a large group by today’s standards. Not only that, a lot of the players from the day were either not actively playing or had moved on. In fact, almost all of the 87 mid-section had passed away (three of four people).
What had to be navigated were two main things: a respectful recognition that any performance could not be presented as the 78th Fraser Highlanders. The band is, of course, still one of the top bands in the world. This effort was not about the band but the music of that time. And membership: from the beginning this was not a reunion. We needed a top flight group who could deliver a performance with minimal rehearsal.

We addressed the first by using an admittedly somewhat clumsy “Live in Ireland 87” title. The second, we looked to active members of the 1987 band [those on the bubble/not active and interested were invited to send along a sample of their current playing to Bill Livingstone for assessment – the tune requested was the band’s setting of “Charlie’s Welcome”]. We augmented the 87 crowd with sharp shooters: players we knew could do the business and were “good guys” – written in a non-gender specific way, by the way. It was by chance that a lot of the folks ending up being grade one Pipe Majors and Leading Drummers. Formal band leadership was not prerequisite, as you can see from the rosters of both Glasgow and Belfast editions.

To be clear, the management of the project landed in my lap, but a lot of people helped a great deal – to make an understatement. Decisions were mostly made by the core group – especially in the Glasgow case (Bill Livingstone, Reid Maxwell, Malkie Bow, Bruce Gandy and me) – but not always. Sometimes I went for it. You know the old line: easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

In the end it was the selection of members that caused the most consternation, upset and evidently some bitterness.

The human part aside, the project had no capital to move forward. In the fall of 2014 I approached Donald Shaw, Artistic Director of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival and pitched the idea of a show. He loved the idea and wanted to have it for the 2015 festival. With only a few months to prepare it was a no-go. It was agreed that the January 2016 would be best.

With some capital assured in the modest CC fee, a funded venue and built-in promotion we were good to go.

Invitations were sent to prospective members and, as Peter Aumonier might say, to the person, each was all over the idea like chrome to a trailer hitch.

So by our standards, “Live in Ireland 87 in Scotland” was a massive success. And that was that, until the Northern Ireland branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association approached me in July 2016 with the idea of staging the thing in Belfast. I was hesitant – as were, I know, some members of the Glasgow cast. My concerns were related to overkill of the idea, a watering down of what was monumentally special and unique about the Glasgow show and, to be honest, getting in the face of the current 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band.

Photo: David Crowder

As regards the last point, both Bill Livingstone and I talked at different times to Pipe Major Doug MacRae of the 78th. He was cool with the idea (not to the idea). In fact, he proved to be a stand-up and stand-out cast member of the Belfast show.

So after a little hemming and hawing we worked with the RSPBANI to make last Saturday’s Belfast show happen.

The Belfast experience, like Glasgow’s the year before, drew on the guiding template of the 87 show but like any orchestra performing a score of a great piece of music, no “re-enactment” – a word derisively bandied about by those unsupportive of this effort. In Belfast, as in Glasgow, musicians, instruments and musical interpretations were all different – for the better, thankfully. Mention must be made of the addition to the cast of Susan Elizabeth Brown, one of Canada’s leading sopranos. We’ll never forget her ear-catching warm-up exercises – and her magnificent vocal performances.

Yes, many of us used up precious work leave and vacation days to journey to Northern Ireland; it was a money-loser for every single member. There was no fee. Four days shared accommodation was provided as was a travel stipend. Every cast member did it for the love of the music and the idea of creating something special by coming together as a group.

And what a show. What a blow-out fantastic multi-dimensional experience of melody, harmony and rhythm. And hospitality! The RSPBANI folks, including – it needs to be said – project manager, Ian “Shaggy” Burrows and his soaring energy and that shiny penny, stage manager and PR Queen, Meaghan Lyons – all acted as role model professionals – and hosts.

I hope in this initiative others may be swayed to create their own projects that delight and inspire. I am.

]]>Happy Canada Day – 5 Random Factshttp://www.dunaber.com/2016/07/01/happy-canada-day/
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:14:44 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=3418Today’s the day. And since we’re here, five random facts about Canada – it’s always five (it’s a blog): 1. Ready for Aliens The home of the world’s first Unidentified Flying Object “landing pad” (1967). A little weird but points for a small town trying – or maybe just seriously prescient. 2. Live French The […]

]]>Today’s the day. And since we’re here, five random facts about Canada – it’s always five (it’s a blog):1. Ready for Aliens
The home of the world’s first Unidentified Flying Object “landing pad” (1967). A little weird but points for a small town trying – or maybe just seriously prescient.

5. Pipes Up!
I estimate there are aboat, er, about 10,000 people in Canada who can play the Great Highland Bagpipe (i.e “Amazing Grace”, one part only, with no more than one choke and drones not necessarily tuned). So that’s a fine .00027740389% of the population of 36,048,521. I think surely there’re more triangle and contrabassoon players than pipers.

So there you go. Canada in 5 bloggy bullets.

And give us a tune for Canada Day you .000277-whaterver per cent wherever you are – and choke-free, s’il vous plaît!

]]>Halfway through 2016 and Reflectinghttp://www.dunaber.com/2016/06/16/halfway-through-2016-and-reflecting/
Thu, 16 Jun 2016 21:29:40 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=3402I think it’s the early sunrise and especially bright eye-squinting mornings, just a little south of the 49th parallel, that reminded me today that we’re almost at the halfway point of 2016. Whoosh! That’s how time goes – and that’s how time flies. And so, as not to forget, and maybe omit something from what […]

]]>I think it’s the early sunrise and especially bright eye-squinting mornings, just a little south of the 49th parallel, that reminded me today that we’re almost at the halfway point of 2016. Whoosh! That’s how time goes – and that’s how time flies. And so, as not to forget, and maybe omit something from what will surely turn out to be a mighty and interesting late-December 2016 summary, I thought I’d jot down a few personal highlights of the year that’s been so far. Not for you, of course, but for me! Me. Me. Me.

When thinking, in processing thoughts, just what makes a person think – of anything? What ignites a thought? A chance meeting with a new acquaintance or old friend? An email, a text, a dog’s bark, the weather, an online video, the news – the cat licking it’s arse – what random action or environmental thing triggers (and apologies in advance for using that word) a thought or thinking? And, again, in this case, thinking as reflection.

The awfulness that was the massacre in Orlando just last week made me pause – I know, like all of you – to think. In this terrible instance, of the twisted senselessness of one person’s action. It’s just almost too much to process. Among many things, I was again reminded of the remarkable fragility of life: One misstep on a city street, a bike ride taken unwisely on a road frequented by distracted drivers, an unexpected and unwelcome medical diagnoses. We just don’t know when our time’s up and sometimes, it doesn’t take a lot to see us clock out. A mad man with a semi-automatic weapon will do.

I think when we understand this we get a better understanding of what matters, what matters in our lives. When we get a better understanding of what really merits our attention. In getting a better sense of what matters – in the context of a life, well, surely to God, we gain wisdom. Even if a little. A little wisdom helps us make better decisions in how we process the world around us – and what orbits our daily lives. Think wisdom as shit filter, or, maybe better put, shit processor (so much more elegant, I know).

Now. I am not suggesting for a minute I have a lot of wisdom. I absolutely believe in my heart of hearts I have some wisdom. But “some” is as good as it gets. And I’m thankful for that. So acknowledging that harsh reality, I give you some of my half year highlights. And as I write this, I cringe a little thinking, why would you care. But such is the way of the internet, we imagine everyone cares – or, at least, gifts us some of their attention. Smiley face.

And I get the irony of talking about what matters and then talking about goddamn bagpipe highlights. I do get that. But even these little “piping” experiences feel warmer and more interesting when considered and interpreted through a grander lens.

OK. Stepping down from the pulpit and keeping it short (reminder: bagpipes blog, bagpipes focus, zzzz.]

1. The January “Live in Ireland 87” project. Genuinely hard work but what a massive reward (these two things are connected, I have found – by the way). This celebration – not a tribute, per se, or “reenactment” (good grief), the whole re-imagining of the 1987 Ballymena concert with a transformed roster of seriously diverse musicians made the thing unforgettable. This late January week proved to be a case study of what happens when we see the right people in the right place at the right time. Download the video now for goodness’ sake!

2. Band practice the morning after the January 30th show: yikes. Hungover (deluxe) – and, so, not a little embarrassed – I turned up at the Glasgow Police band‘s practice showing more green, maybe, then the program from the afternoon before. My pipes were safely back at the hotel but Stuart McCallum, good guy that he is, handed me his pipes to play through some tunes. Ugh. The faces on Iain MacPherson and Duncan Nicholson are well-remembered, to say the least. What a fine team.

3. A visit to Copenhagen in March: the Copenhagen Winter Competitions marked an unforgettable cultural experience. A little adjudication, a little piping, a lot of fun – and friendship. The Danes are a warm people (well, at least, the boozy ones I met) and Denmark’s most famous piper, Bernard Bouhadana, for the record, rarely, if ever, makes a note error. Oh, and one Stephen Creighton of SLOT has one of the fun-loving-ist of personalities I have yet met. Great memories.
4. And, finally, sitting on the “bench” with friend, teacher and piping maestro, Bill Livingstone at the contest that honours his dad the first Saturday of every May – just great, serious fun. This year’s Livingstone Invitational in Hamilton, Ontario, was of a super high standard. Here we had pipers playing their hearts out, making music, bringing the good tunes forward. A real treat – and spending 8 to 10 hours “co-listening” to tunes will bring anyone together. It’s been proven. Anyway, I’m resolved to have more great, serious fun.

And that’s it: A mid-year recollection of a few piping memories – passed along via my own hard-earned shit filter.

You’ll have your own hard-earned shit filter, of course. So on you go and reflect – and with a shout out to the City of Washington Pipe Band and their excellent mock-Latin motto, Illegitimi non carborundum, or, “don’t let the bastards grind you down”. And hope, too, that bastards everywhere have no semi-automatic weapons.

]]>Clachantrushal [say that three times fast]http://www.dunaber.com/2015/09/13/clachantrushal-say-that-three-times-fast/
Sun, 13 Sep 2015 23:56:38 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=3173There are a couple of instances where people might talk and, so, where I find myself more riled up than other times: those that get me going more than almost any other: the first, the georgebushian “nucular”, for nuclear (as in war and bombs) and the second related to the pipe tune, “Pipe Major Manson’s […]

]]>There are a couple of instances where people might talk and, so, where I find myself more riled up than other times: those that get me going more than almost any other: the first, the georgebushian “nucular”, for nuclear (as in war and bombs) and the second related to the pipe tune, “Pipe Major Manson’s Farewell to Clachantrushal” for “Major David Manson AT Clachantrushal”, the later being the accurate and right name for this bagpipe 2/4-timed march – played always and often in bagpipe circles.
Why the bother, you ask? And get a life – I hear you.

I think, first, if I was true to myself and fessing up, well, it’s a parochial [Great Highland] bagpipe thing: it’s just not permitted in our little world to have perceived errors in fact or musical score portrayed as otherwise in any situation – dammit. Along with that, this tune is played a lot, and in name, represented wrongly – a lot.

The second? As a guy who makes tunes from time to time it bugs me that people frequently screw with titles – tune titles. To pipers (and some publishers) tune titles mean little and, generally, and are forgotten often.

Not many tune titles happen by accident and all of them are there to represent something important to the composer, and, in turn, the star of the tune – be that a person, place or thing.

And so, did the melody in question – composed, in this example, by Donald MacLean (Lewis) stand as a “fond, emotional farewell” or a “geezuz, for gawd sakes, yer still here?” commemoration [yes, Donald MacLean of THAT 6/8-timed march by Donald MacLeod]?

Here’s the frontispiece for the small two-tune folder published by Glasgow’s College of Piping in the 1950s; just to keep us right.

And a few words on the composer, Pipe Major Donald MacLean, courtesy of www.pipetunes.ca:

“On June 12, 1940, he, along with the likes of Donald MacLeod, John Wilson, George McIntyre and many other pipers in the 51st Highland Division, were captured in France at St. Valery. He would spend the next five years as a prisoner of war in Germany and Poland. It was during this time that he wrote his famous competition march “Major David Manson at Clachantrushal” on a practice chanter borrowed from fellow piper Alex Craig. David Manson was a retired officer of the Canadian army who worked as a Glasgow silversmith. He had visited Donald’s home before the war and gave him a set of engraved silver pipes. “Clachantrushal” refers to a monolith – said to be the largest standing stone in Scotland – that stands near the home.”

]]>Dunrovin Farm, North Hatley, Quebechttp://www.dunaber.com/2015/09/07/dunvovin-farm-north-hatley-quebec/
Tue, 08 Sep 2015 00:08:01 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=3159This past Saturday I found my way back to the homeland, Quebec’s Eastern Townships, for a flying visit: there and back the same day. By far the shortest visit I’ve made to this place, about 750 kilometres from where I live today. Fleeting? Yes. But sweetly memorable. The occasion, sadly, was a funeral. Though the […]

]]>This past Saturday I found my way back to the homeland, Quebec’s Eastern Townships, for a flying visit: there and back the same day. By far the shortest visit I’ve made to this place, about 750 kilometres from where I live today. Fleeting? Yes. But sweetly memorable. The occasion, sadly, was a funeral. Though the service, on this day in the small 19th century country church, was for a man who lived a good long life, a life lived well and one with a legacy of seriously fine people – and a lot of stories. Stories galore. Gordon Stuart was a big man who lived large. And so this day, marked a fine send-off and a quiet celebration marking goodness and a good life. Surely this is at the core of why we have funerals.
Gordie Stuart – or, “Mr Stuart”, as I will forever know him – was my Father’s best friend. Both joined “The Bell” (think Bell Canada, British Telecom, AT&T) when still teenagers and became life-long friends beyond the whole of their working lives at The Bell. In turn, their wives, my Mum, Joan, and Gord’s Frankie, became the best of friends, too. We – my siblings, Jane, Robert and Patty – and the Stuart kids: Sandy, Wendy, Kim, Karen and Scott, spent our childhoods together. And it struck me, after I was gifted a short visit with them on this day, so many years since our last meeting, that we share an awful lot of common pre-adult touchstones. I refer to experiences of close family life that almost goes beyond the describable – our families were tight. Certainly from time to time (to time) our fathers were tight. We laugh now. In those days it was all “hamburgs for the kids and steaks for the adults”. Rightly so. And If the stars were aligned there’d be a barrel of KFC chicken for one and all – most always at the behest of Mr Bill Grey.
Both Mr Stuart and my Dad were serious dyed-in-the-wool Townshippers. They knew the place, and the people, and they knew where to fish. They used to take my brother and I and Mr Stuart’s, Scott, brook fishing. For those that aren’t familiar, you’d walk lazily along the country stream, the “burn”, and cast a hook with a worm into a rock pool and hope to hell you’d snag a brown or rainbow trout. There’s more to it than that but as a kid that was pretty much it – you’d hope for a bite.

On the summer’s day I remember we were at the go-to place, the stream that passed by Gould. For anyone who knows The Megantic Outlaw story, this river runs through it. There were five of us and we were all meters, if not more apart, along the densely wooded stream – which is only right when fishing. Now, I call the water a “stream” but it had deep pools and spots of rough white water. It was no Lachine Rapids but no harmless trickle. This day I recall loud shouts from upstream, a lot of anxious commotion and a heroic Mr Stuart. My brother had slipped off one of the lichened rocks and found his way into one of the largest rock pools possible. White water boiling all around, Mr Stuart, the closest of the group to the scene, threw rod, gear and heavy boots aside and dove into the ten foot or so pool. And rescued Robert.

That was Gordon D. Stuart.

Anyway – or “anyways”, as I believe I would say if I was talking to you – once in a long while I’ll reflect and have an “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment. You know the story: angel comes to help a man in desperate need to show what the world would be like had he never been born. If I stop and think to apply an IAWL moment I can say hand-on-heart: had Gordon Stuart never been born I’d have never played the pipes. The pipes have made my life, in a real way and it was Mr Stuart’s second daughter, Wendy, who played the pipes. It was she who inspired me to take them up. Bless her heart – and bless Mr Stuart.

While Gordon Stuart raised a large family he also worked hard at a full-time “Bell” job and ran a farm. I guess we’d call it a hobby farm today but with horses, cattle, fields of hay and massive “gardens” the enterprise – “Dunrovin Farm” – must have been some energy-grabber – for the whole family of seven. Still, countless happy times were spent at Dunvovin Farm, North Hatley, Quebec. The very best of memories I hold close today.

When I was 17 years old I built a jig that I still play. And others, it seems, play it, too. Which makes the tune all the sweeter: “Dunrovin Farm, North Hatley” – the original title. I attach the score here, written in a crazy teenage anal retentive sort of rulered script. And look at that precious signature. One surely practiced and preened over countless hours.

Dunrovin Farm is The Stuart Family: confident, rambunctious, self-reliant and loving.
I always think of them when I play it or hear it played.

]]>Reay Mackay of Lake Couchichinghttp://www.dunaber.com/2015/04/25/reay-mackay-of-lake-couchiching/
Sat, 25 Apr 2015 23:12:28 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=2964Just in the door from a rare visit with Reay Mackay and his wife Joan (and daughter Sheila and hubby, Michael) in their home an hour north of Toronto. It felt like old home week in their beautiful place on the shores of placid Lake Couchiching (couchiching reminds me of a “word” you might use […]

]]>Just in the door from a rare visit with Reay Mackay and his wife Joan (and daughter Sheila and hubby, Michael) in their home an hour north of Toronto. It felt like old home week in their beautiful place on the shores of placid Lake Couchiching (couchiching reminds me of a “word” you might use to amuse a baby, just sayin’). Anyways, a great catch-up.
Reay is an amazing and priceless tradition bearer of our music. Taught by his Dad, Colin Mackay (yes, he, of course of the classic hornpipe, made by Reay – see John Wilson’s Book 2), Murdo MacLeod (Benbecula), and a star pupil of John Wilson (the seriously impactful piper of Edinburgh and Toronto, pupil of Roderick Campbell, the guy who wrote Royal Scottish Pipers’ Society, etc, and, himself, a great pupil of John MacDougall Gillies) Reay’s experience firmly touches hundreds of years of tradition. And, that aside, great to talk to, along with his fam, and have a bit of a gossip of today’s goings-on (OK, maybe more lot than bit).

He’s got a major music project underway, by the way, so stay tuned. Much good news to follow.

I’m just inspired for having visited such good people. Here’s Reay playing his beloved “side” instrument, the accordion. Just great.

]]>The Worlds: Fish Suppers all ‘Round!http://www.dunaber.com/2015/03/08/the-worlds-fish-suppers-all-round/
http://www.dunaber.com/2015/03/08/the-worlds-fish-suppers-all-round/#commentsSun, 08 Mar 2015 23:20:17 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=2908Here’s a curiosity: a long-ago-redeemed copy of a cheque. Usually such a thing isn’t much interest except maybe for keen auditors (redundant, I know; of course, all auditors are keen), but this image is one for the few pipe band historians around: this is a copy of the cheque that paid out first prize to […]

]]>Here’s a curiosity: a long-ago-redeemed copy of a cheque. Usually such a thing isn’t much interest except maybe for keen auditors (redundant, I know; of course, all auditors are keen), but this image is one for the few pipe band historians around: this is a copy of the cheque that paid out first prize to the 78th Fraser Highlanders at the World Pipe Band Championships in 1987.
A lot of you know the basic history but as I travel around I increasingly find people aren’t aware of piping history, even past history of five or ten years – forget 27 years. So, in 1987, this band was the first non-Scots band to win the World Pipe Band Championship. Yay.

Right, so here it is: £300. Forget the scores of countless thousands of pounds invested in the win, I can tell you from experience that this sweet prize went a long way to buy a great many gloriously golden flats of Tennent’s and about 40 fish suppers. I really don’t know what grade one bands win today. It’s not advertised as far as I know.

And so, does anyone aside from the deft Richard Parkes – and some of his team (and, of course, the cheque signers)?

In a way, I don’t think it matters. This afternoon breaks the freezing mark for the first time in 1000 days, as in this Sunday March afternoon in Ontario, and the sun shines in the most promising way, and I set aside all my usual crabby/crabbit whinging about universally rotten prize money. I can only say that the cash that lands in a band’s kitty for winning the worlds finds a way, once in hand(s), to feel like it somehow magically multiplies 100-fold in value.

]]>http://www.dunaber.com/2015/03/08/the-worlds-fish-suppers-all-round/feed/2“Mike Grey, the doctor will see you now”http://www.dunaber.com/2015/02/16/mike-grey-the-doctor-will-see-you-now/
Tue, 17 Feb 2015 01:20:36 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=2852I’ve had the same family doctor for as long as I can remember. I don’t see him enough, which, in a way, I guess, is a good thing. But, up until fairly recently, when I did land in his waiting room, I’d almost always cause him – or his receptionist – consternation, if not a […]

]]>I’ve had the same family doctor for as long as I can remember. I don’t see him enough, which, in a way, I guess, is a good thing. But, up until fairly recently, when I did land in his waiting room, I’d almost always cause him – or his receptionist – consternation, if not a laugh.
My GP has a large practice, his always-jammed waiting room is a testament to that, so it stands to reason, I guess, that he’d have lots of patients from the same extended family, living on the same street, having the same birthday and, maybe, a few with the same name. Dr F. for a very long while had two Michael Greys signed up to his practice. Imagine that. With names even spelled the same coloury way.

The other Michael Grey – a person I never met – was about 40 years older than me (sadly, I use past tense). So when my patient file was pulled in advance of an appointment, I’d get a weird look from the receptionist-assistant, as in, “Wow! You’re looking not so bad for 80!”, or, in the case of the doc, he’d just laugh.

A number of years ago my Mum found herself involved in a local memoir group. A program introduced by her local library and one where seniors were brought together to share their stories with a view to record lives well lived. Through this group she met one Rae Grey. Again, with the small world, this woman’s given name happened to be the maiden name of my Dad’s grandmother – though his granny spelled her name, Rea. I can feel the too-much-info factor slipping in here so … to cut to the chase.

Rae’s husband was Michael Grey, or “Mike”, as he was seemingly mostly known. Mike and Rae lived and raised their family a kilometer or two from where I was brought up. And here’s the rest of the story:

My Mum became friends with Rae and through this friendship Mike’s wartime actions – dare I say, his heroism – came to be known. Mike was a signals officer during WWII in the 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion. In fact, he was to find himself made company commander after having more than a few unimaginable adventures including 33 parachute jumps and a case of hepatitis (note among those who nursed him back to health was Prince Phillip’s mother, Princess Alice). Referring to a time in 1944 he said:

“They [5th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment] were sent to Salonika before coming back to Athens, where the street fighting was the worst and I was on top of the Acropolis with a great field of fire when I was hit with a piece of stone from a bullet. Another wounded telegram home.”

On Mike’s passing, and knowing my Mum, and, so, a little of me – the piper guy – Rae Grey handed along a couple of Mike’s fine possessions to my Mum – to pass, in turn to me. In my hands now are two vinyl records: “British Tournament and Tattoo (London Records, 1967) and “John Burgess: King of the Bagpipers” (Topic Records, 1969). Along with these gems are two letters, one on the letterhead of the Army School of Piping, Edinburgh Castle, the other, on the personal letterhead of the famous British actor, David Niven – it must be said here, the doppelganger of the late Pipe Major John M MacKenzie, of the Queen Victoria School, Dunblane (he a huge force in making the Glenuig MacDonald brothers pipers).

In 1972 David Niven published the first of his memoirs, “The Moon’s a Balloon“. In the book he referenced his impressive military life and a little of his Scottish Officer Mess Dinner experiences – including the playing of the pibroch “The Desperate Battle (of the Birds)”:

“Finally, after the pipe major had played his solo pibroch, the haunting lovely, “Desperate Battle of the Birds”, the Colonel tottered from the room, followed by the survivors who then indulged in a monstrous barging march, punctuated by wild cries, which passed for Highland reels.”

On Mike’s behalf, Rae wrote a note to David Niven, looking for some guidance on where to track down a recording of one of ceol mor‘s most evocative tunes. The gallant David Niven responded forthwith and suggested Edinburgh Castle had the answer. His letter is here:

Mike was keen, it seems, to source a recording of this pibroch, a regimental favourite, and so wrote a letter to the Army School at Edinburgh Castle. It was David Aitken who replied on behalf of Captain John A MacLellan, then head of the school. Aitken’s letter is here:

Aitken recommended John D Burgess‘s recording. Mike took Aitken’s advice and that’s the record I have in my hands now. You just can’t go wrong with John D!

So while this story is maybe a little convoluted and one where there is much significant, interesting detail that might be mentioned, I think this is enough to confirm, yet again, that the world is small, and that we are all connected, by name or – if we’re lucky – a John D Burgess record.

And to think all this vast story was waiting to be known by kindred spirits sitting in a suburban doctor’s waiting room.

]]>Three Deep Breaths (A Kiwi Tip)http://www.dunaber.com/2014/11/20/three-deep-breaths/
Fri, 21 Nov 2014 02:21:01 +0000http://www.dunaber.com/?p=2789A piece of advice I remember time and again is that which came to me through the thoughtfulness of the great New Zealand piper, Gold Medallist, John Hanning. Early in my career, while I was recitalling through the north and south islands of NZ, he passed along his recipe for performance steadiness; that is, his […]

]]>A piece of advice I remember time and again is that which came to me through the thoughtfulness of the great New Zealand piper, Gold Medallist, John Hanning. Early in my career, while I was recitalling through the north and south islands of NZ, he passed along his recipe for performance steadiness; that is, his final personal prep for ensuring he didn’t unduly contribute to the filling up of the laundry basket.

John’s advice was simple, as seems the way with all great things. It’s worked for me – almost always. And to this day, without a miss, I follow Doctor John’s prescription (and Doctor John is a lawyer – by the way):

“take three deep breaths as you enter any performance area”.

To some cynical types (those very few in the piping world) this may sound like a soothing superstition. But no! There’s science. Kiwi’s don’t have it in them to lead a person astray.

Places like medicine.net and even the famous Mayo Clinic are among those places which advocate for planned breathing technique to reduce stress – and in our case, performance craziness.

If we breathe – if we’re oxygenated – if we’re steady and without anxiety, the best things, like good tunes, are sure to happen.